ACR+ News

LIFE SMART WASTE | New Remote Sensing report published

The LIFE SMART Waste project has published the first in a series of reports investigating the potential for innovation in using Remote Sensing (RS) techniques and data to help tackle waste crime.

Waste crime is a high priority challenge for environmental regulators in the European Union. RS techniques can potentially play a significant role in supporting the work of regulatory agencies in identifying waste management licence breaches, as well as more serious waste crime. Although remote monitoring of the Earth’s surface using satellite-mounted instruments has been undertaken almost as long as satellites have been launched, the technology’s full potential has yet to be realised in the enforcement of environmental regulation.

Remote Sensing is one of the innovative techniques to be developed, piloted and evaluated as part of the LIFE SMART Waste project. The newly published report outlines the findings of the initial research phase undertaken by expert contactors, Air & Space Evidence and Cambrensis.

The report, which is supported with case studies, documents the current regulatory environmental monitoring applications which use RS data and considers the technical capabilities of RS. Data sources for waste crime detection, data access and associated costs are then assessed. Regulatory requirements and opportunities for innovation are also considered and reflected in the report’s conclusions, with recommendations for four pilot projects that could be taken forward by the LIFE SMART Waste project.